Collapsible casket table for automobiles



Feb; 1, 1949. R. e. PETERSON 2,460,712

COLLAPSIBLE CASKET TA BLE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed D60. 21, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 1;1949. R. G. PETERSON COLLAPSIBLE CASKET TABLE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 21, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n r M 6 0 r 6 m m Mwm 9 o 4 W g u MM & W r|||||||| d h 7 f g W5 9% m 1m 3 m mm m n H 2 T M m U 4. W m; m Q9 0 *0 y M" i W U 9 u 6 7% \o Q m a o 9 m u a z .Qha w W 2 m i 0 7 K m A M Patented Feb. 1, 19.49

UNITED STATES PATE T F COLLAPSIB LE CASKET TABLE FOR H AUTOMOBILES Russell G; Peterson, Minneapolis, Minn.

.My invention relates to. supporting tables for .usea-particularly in,a seat equipped tonneau or body ofan automobile.

More particularly, my invention relates to loadcarryingutables. of the kind immediately above described, which are adapted for use in transporting relatively small caskets in a dignified manner. An important object of my invention is the provision of a device, which can be used in the rear seat ofsubstantially any modern rear-seatequipped "automobile, and which will carry the casketor other device placed thereon, in a highoif-the-seat level position. V i i Another object ofmy invention is the provision .of, such a device in which the casket or' other heavy object may be slidably placed thereon from either side of the automobile andfrom any angle, depending upon whether the door opens forwardly orrearwardly. @Another object of my invention is the provision .ofsuch a device, whichis light in weight, which ,can be readily installed in an automobile by a single operator, and which can be compactly folded for storage, transportation, or shipping.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a casket-supporting table havin a relatively long pair of legs for engagement with the floor of the vehicle, a relatively short pair of legs for engagement with the seat of the automobile, and means on one pair of said legs for adjustably extending them, in order to maintain a level position of the supporting top in all types of vehicles and irrespective of the relative height of the seat with respect to the floor.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of means carried by the relatively short legs to prevent the same from slipping down between the seat and the back thereof and for preventing possible damage to the upholstered seat.

The above and still further objects of my novel invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claim, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an automobile, showing my device applied to the rear seat compartment thereof;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my device, some parts of the automobile being shown in section; Fig. 3 is a plan view of my supporting table;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3 and illustrating, by dotted lines, a casket supported thereon;

Fig. 5 is anend elevation of my 7 Application December 21, Serial No. 717,753

' 1 Claim. (o1.31 1 21) device in a folded position; and J L Fig. dis an enlarged sectional .view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring with greater particularity to. the drawings, the numeral I indicates, in its entirety, an: automobile body or tonneauhavinga iioorz; a rear seat 3 provided with a back 4, and rear o r i.

My novel device comprises an elongatedrectangular casket-supporting top 6, preferably and as shown, provided with a pluralityof pairsof upstanding rollers 1,. the peripheral surfaceof which extend above the plane of'the upper 81111- face of the top 6. For a purpose which will-hereinafter become apparent, I preferably arrange the rollers I so that those adjacent the center are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the top as indicated at .8, and so that others are disposed at several angles to thelongitudinal axis of the top 6, as indicated at 9. As shown, all these rollers radiate from the approximate center of thetop 6 to facilitate slidably placing a casket thereon from either end and from any angle of approa ch at eitherend. U 1 I Top 6 is also provided with a plurality of longitu'dinally-s'paced openings Ill and a plurality. of laterally-spacedopenin'gs l I, into which openings are adapted to fit a plurality of pegs [2, which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, prevent longitudinal and lateral shifting movements of a casket or the like I3 placed on the table top 6, during transportation. Hingedly secured in spaced relationship to the under surface of top 6, adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof, is a pair of relatively short legs [4, which are secured together at their bases by an enlarged foot-forming brace member I5. Hingedly secured to a longitudinallyextended depending bar l6, adjacent the opposite longitudinal edge of top 6, is a pair of relatively long legs [1, which are connected by a longitudinal brace member [8 at their intermediate portions.

As shown, the relatively long legs ll are adapted to engage the floor 2 of the vehicle, whereas the relatively short legs M are adapted to engage the seat 3 of the vehicle. Both pairs of legs I! and [1 are adapted to be folded against the under surface of the top 6, as shown in Fig. 5, and are adapted to be moved pivotally to a downwardly and outwardly extended supporting position, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, The relatively short legs M are limited in their downward and outward swinging movements by engagement of the lower surface of the top 6 with the beveled end portion IQ of the leg l4; whereas the relatively long legs I! are limited in their downward and outward swinging movements by engagement of the lower surface of bar [6 with the beveled ends 20 of the legs I1, It is desirable to lock 'at least one of the pairs of legs against accidental foldthe upholstered seat 3 or from forcing their weight downwardly between the element 3 and 4,

a the foot-forming brace member is provided.

ing movements; and for this purpose, I preferably V providea pair of toggle acting levers 2|, which are diagonallig disposed betweenijthez relatively ,long legs Ira-m me table top 6. This wgg1e= acting brace structure and the means of con necting the saine to the table are in general use" 1 in folding card tables and the like;}and-,,henc e-,;

will not be explained in detail.

In order to maintainthe table top 55in a horizontal load-supporting position mam -vans tonneau designs, wherein the height ofathe seat 3 with respect to the floor 2 may vary consider- My device has been thoroughly tested and found to supply a completely unfilled want.

While I have described a commercial embodiment of my invention as provided by section 4888 of the United States Statutes, it should be obvious that? he sameisgcapableeof inodificatiomwithout departure fiom the scope of tlfe appilad claim.

What I claim is:

' "In a device of the class described, a casketrecei-ving: top, a pair of. relatively long support- 1 mg, legs hingedly secured to the lower surface of 1 said top. adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof "andadaptedto engage the floor of a vehicle adably, I have found it desirable to make oneefthe l pairs of-legs longitudinally, adjustably extensible. -As::shown;;;ea-ch of theirelativelydong legs n'r-ad-v jacent their lower, ends, is grooved' las indicated -atlfiato slidaibly receive aleg-extending element 23; Element 23 isfrictionally rtaine'd-withinzthe groove 22;. atzthe desired position; byiineahs -bf Y a ,wifig nut quipped bolt 24:; which extends "there- As shown in Fig. '5, my novel structure rnaybe folded relativelyfflat for the purpdse 'bfstorage, t; on the like. u When it 'is d'siredto' place rdoon'opening; 'theref'orefit is desirable to place 1 tliejdevice inthe compartment initially'in a1fold-.

freadily swung to tlie load support'ng: position,

'2;"it is usually desirable' thatthe' bottom ends of legs 1 4 be positioned adjacent thejii turefof" 1th, seatj a 'witn tne backlfi'itl'iifeofi. However, toprevent the legs [4* from unduly depressing i iacent .an upstanding, seat, said legs being longitudinally extensible and contractible, and a pair .ofzfhfively short legs hingedlysecured to the lo wer s urface of said top adjacent the opposite magnum-m nage i'thereof and adapted toz fest upen said seatilIsaid' sliorter: legs beingconnected at their bases by an enlarged seat engag-ingbrace member-a "sesame" amt-sea sweetness-basal l It firmne s-ar ofreird in the a \i i a "Nurriber Name "Date 7 32,585 Reinhart i June-'30} 119133 1,;5765455 Parker Mar 1926 15599247- Ridabock Kl lamest-1 93s "5 3 7 Bruning sewag 193 b iii v-l Da e 1 Great Britain n s r- Nov; .11, 1926 

